US20060268077A1 - Liquid cartridge, liquid ejection apparatus and liquid ejection control method - Google Patents
Liquid cartridge, liquid ejection apparatus and liquid ejection control method Download PDFInfo
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- US20060268077A1 US20060268077A1 US11/382,809 US38280906A US2006268077A1 US 20060268077 A1 US20060268077 A1 US 20060268077A1 US 38280906 A US38280906 A US 38280906A US 2006268077 A1 US2006268077 A1 US 2006268077A1
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 32
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 claims description 135
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 claims description 17
- 238000012937 correction Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 abstract description 26
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 20
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 7
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000001186 cumulative effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000010355 oscillation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000000018 DNA microarray Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001276 controlling effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007772 electrode material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004973 liquid crystal related substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
- B41J2/17503—Ink cartridges
- B41J2/17513—Inner structure
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
- B41J2/17566—Ink level or ink residue control
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
- B41J2/17566—Ink level or ink residue control
- B41J2002/17569—Ink level or ink residue control based on the amount printed or to be printed
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
- B41J2/17566—Ink level or ink residue control
- B41J2002/17583—Ink level or ink residue control using vibration or ultra-sons for ink level indication
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/17—Ink jet characterised by ink handling
- B41J2/175—Ink supply systems ; Circuit parts therefor
- B41J2/17566—Ink level or ink residue control
- B41J2002/17589—Ink level or ink residue control using ink level as input for printer mode selection or for prediction of remaining printing capacity
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a liquid cartridge which is suitable for an ink cartridge to be attached to an ink jet printer, for example, and a liquid ejection apparatus to which the liquid cartridge is attachable. Also, the present invention further related to a liquid ejection control method in an apparatus using the liquid cartridge.
- a liquid cartridge comprising, in a container body to be attached to a printer (an apparatus), a liquid chamber for accommodating an ink liquid (a liquid), a liquid supply port to be connected to an ink liquid receiving portion (a liquid receiving portion) on the printer side, a liquid passage for causing the liquid chamber to communicate with the liquid supply port, and an ink end sensor (a liquid end sensor) provided in the middle of the liquid passage and serving to detect the presence of an ink in the liquid chamber (for example, see JP-A-2003-39694 Publication).
- a control circuit for monitoring an output of an ink end sensor such as an optical sensor for optically detecting the presence of an ink or an electrical sensor for electrically detecting the presence of the ink and giving a notice of an exchange time for the ink cartridge.
- an ink end sensor such as an optical sensor for optically detecting the presence of an ink or an electrical sensor for electrically detecting the presence of the ink and giving a notice of an exchange time for the ink cartridge.
- the ink end sensor provided on the ink cartridge usually detects the absence of the ink liquid, however, the ink liquid remains in the liquid passage between the ink end sensor and the liquid supply port. For this reason, even if the absence of the ink liquid is detected by the ink end sensor, it is wasteful to instantly exchange the ink cartridge since the remaining ink is discarded in a non-use state.
- a liquid cartridge mountable to an apparatus comprising:
- a liquid chamber having a first capacity to store a liquid therein
- a liquid supplying port connectable to a liquid receiving portion of the apparatus
- a liquid sensor forming a part of the liquid passage and detecting a presence or absence of the liquid in the liquid chamber
- a buffer chamber having a second capacity to store the liquid therein and communicating with the liquid passage at a downstream of the liquid sensor, wherein
- the second capacity is set to be substantially 10% of an effective liquid amount of the liquid cartridge.
- the liquid cartridge having the structure it is apparent that the liquid corresponding to substantially 10% of the effective amount of the liquid in the liquid cartridge remains in the buffer chamber provided on the liquid passage at the downstream of the liquid sensor when the absence of the residual liquid is detected by the liquid sensor.
- the liquid ejection processing is executed by the apparatus within an allowable range corresponding to substantially 10% of the effective liquid amount of the liquid cartridge and the liquid cartridge is then exchanged after the absence of the residual liquid is detected by the liquid sensor, therefore, the amount of the liquid remaining in the liquid cartridge to be discarded due to the exchange can be minimized because the liquid in the buffer chamber has already been consumed almost perfectly.
- a liquid cartridge mountable to an apparatus comprising:
- a liquid chamber having a first capacity to store a liquid therein
- a liquid supplying port connectable to a liquid receiving portion of the apparatus
- a liquid sensor forming a part of the liquid passage and detecting a presence or absence of the liquid in the liquid chamber
- a buffer chamber having a second capacity to store the liquid therein and communicating with the liquid passage at a downstream of the liquid sensor, wherein
- the second capacity is set to be a standard use amount consumed when the apparatus ejects the liquid to one medium.
- the liquid cartridge having the structure it is apparent that the liquid corresponding to the standard use amount in the ejection of the liquid onto the medium by the apparatus remains in the buffer chamber provided on the liquid passage at the downstream side of the liquid sensor when the absence of the residual liquid is detected by the liquid sensor.
- the apparatus can reliably end the processing of ejecting the liquid onto the medium so that the processing for the medium can be prevented from being ended incompletely.
- the processing of ejecting the liquid onto the medium is executed and the liquid cartridge is then exchanged after the absence of the residual liquid is detected by the liquid sensor, moreover, the amount of the liquid remaining in the liquid cartridge to be discarded due to the exchange can be minimized because the liquid in the buffer chamber has already been consumed almost perfectly.
- a liquid cartridge mountable to an apparatus comprising:
- a liquid chamber having a first capacity to store a liquid therein
- a liquid supplying port connectable to a liquid receiving portion of the apparatus
- a liquid sensor forming a part of the liquid passage and detecting a presence or absence of the liquid in the liquid chamber
- a buffer chamber having a second capacity to store the liquid therein and communicating with the liquid passage at a downstream of the liquid sensor, wherein
- the second capacity is set to be a maximum consumption amount consumed when the apparatus is subjected to a maintenance processing.
- the liquid in the amount corresponding to the maximum value of the consumption amount of the liquid consumed in the maintenance processing such as cleaning by the apparatus remains in the buffer chamber provided on the liquid passage at the downstream side of the liquid sensor when the absence of the residual liquid is detected by the liquid sensor.
- the residual liquid should be alternatively consumed by the employment of a normal processing corresponding to the amount of the residual liquid and the liquid cartridge should be then exchanged quickly. Consequently, a subsequent processing can be prevented from being continuously carried out carelessly for a long period of time.
- a liquid cartridge mountable to an apparatus comprising:
- a liquid chamber having a first capacity to store a liquid therein
- a liquid supplying port connectable to a liquid receiving portion of the apparatus
- a liquid sensor forming a part of the liquid passage and detecting a presence or absence of the liquid in the liquid chamber
- a buffer chamber having a second capacity to store the liquid therein and communicating with the liquid passage at a downstream of the liquid sensor, wherein
- the second capacity is set to be an initial filling amount for filling the liquid in a passage from the liquid cartridge to a liquid ejection head when the liquid cartridge is attached to the apparatus.
- the liquid cartridge having the structure it is apparent that the liquid corresponding to the amount of initial filling in the attachment to the apparatus remains in the buffer chamber provided on the liquid passage at the downstream of the liquid sensor when the absence of the residual liquid is detected by the liquid sensor.
- the amount of the residual liquid in the liquid cartridge can be prevented from being completely nulled so that the initial filling can be executed safely, and at the same time, the generation of the idle ejecting can be prevented even if the initial filling is executed when the liquid cartridge is attached to the apparatus again.
- the residual liquid should be alternatively consumed by the employment of a normal processing corresponding to the amount of the initial filling and the liquid cartridge should be then exchanged quickly. Consequently, the subsequent processing can be prevented from being continuously carried out carelessly for a long period of time.
- a liquid cartridge mountable to an apparatus comprising:
- a liquid chamber having a first capacity to store a liquid therein
- a liquid supplying port connectable to a liquid receiving portion of the apparatus
- a liquid sensor forming a part of the liquid passage and detecting a presence or absence of the liquid in the liquid chamber
- a buffer chamber having a second capacity to store the liquid therein and communicating with the liquid passage at a downstream of the liquid sensor, wherein
- the second capacity is set to be a reference amount for prohibiting a maintenance processing.
- the liquid cartridge having the structure it is apparent that the liquid corresponding to the amount of the residual liquid in the liquid chamber to be the reference amount for prohibiting the maintenance processing such as the cleaning by the apparatus remains in the buffer chamber provided on the downstream of the liquid sensor when the absence of the residual liquid is detected by the liquid sensor.
- the residual liquid should be alternatively consumed by the employment of a normal processing corresponding to the amount of the residual liquid and the liquid cartridge should be then exchanged quickly. Consequently, the subsequent processing can be prevented from being continuously carried out carelessly for a long period of time.
- a liquid ejection control method for an apparatus comprising a liquid receiving portion to which a liquid cartridge provided with a liquid chamber and a liquid sensor is detachably attached, and a liquid ejection head ejecting a liquid supplied from the liquid cartridge as liquid droplets to a medium, the method comprising:
- the count value of the dot count processing which is obtained by counting and calculating the quantity of droplets is corrected in the dot count correction processing.
- a liquid ejection control method for an apparatus comprising a liquid receiving portion to which a liquid cartridge provided with a liquid chamber and a liquid sensor is detachably attached, and a liquid ejection head ejecting liquid droplets supplied from the liquid cartridge as liquid drop lets to a medium, the method comprising;
- a second dot count judgment processing of judging, when it is judged that the count value does not reach the first value in the first dot count judgment processing and the absence of the liquid is judged in the liquid presence judgment processing, whether the count value reaches a second value;
- an ejection stop processing of stopping ejecting the liquid droplets when it is judged that the count value reaches the first value in the first dot count judgment processing or the second value in the second dot count judgment processing.
- the liquid ejection is stopped when it is judged, in the second dot count judgment, that the dot count value counted and calculated after the absence of the liquid is judged reaches the second value.
- a dot count value corresponding to an amount of storage of the liquid in a buffer chamber provided at the downstream of the liquid sensor is preset to the second value, and after the absence of the liquid is judged, the liquid ejection processing is executed by the apparatus within an allowable range of the liquid storage amount in the buffer chamber, and the liquid cartridge is then exchanged. Therefore, the amount of the liquid remaining in the liquid cartridge to be discarded due to the exchange can be minimized because the liquid in the buffer chamber has already been consumed almost perfectly.
- a liquid ejection apparatus to which a liquid cartridge comprising a liquid chamber and a liquid sensor is detachably attached, the apparatus comprising:
- a liquid ejection head ejecting a liquid supplied from the liquid chamber as liquid droplets to a medium
- a dot counter counting the number of the liquid droplets ejected from the liquid ejection head to obtain a count value
- a detector detecting a signal from the liquid sensor to judge a presence or absence of the liquid stored in the liquid chamber
- a controller controlling the liquid ejection head to stop ejecting the liquid droplets based on the count value obtained by the dot counter and the signal detected by the detector.
- the controller controls the liquid ejection head to stop ejecting based on the count value by the dot counter and the signal detected by the detector, it is possible to enhance a precision of judging the ink end.
- a liquid ejection control method for an apparatus which is provided with a liquid ejection head for ejecting liquid droplets to a medium, and to which a liquid cartridge is detachably attached, the liquid cartridge comprising:
- a liquid chamber storing a liquid therein
- a liquid supplying port supplying the liquid to the liquid ejection head
- a liquid sensor forming a part of the liquid passage and detecting a presence or absence of the liquid in the liquid chamber
- a buffer chamber storing the liquid therein and communicating with the liquid passage at a downstream of the liquid sensor, the method comprising:
- the liquid ejection control method since the number of the liquid droplets is counted and calculated at least after the absence of the liquid is judged by the liquid sensor, it is possible to enhance a precision of judging the ink, end.
- the liquid ejection apparatus and the liquid ejecting control method of the invention when the absence of the residual liquid is detected by the liquid end sensor, the amount of the liquid remaining in the buffer chamber is clear. Therefore, a subsequent processing can be prevented from being continuously carried out carelessly for a long period of time. Consequently, it is possible to reliably prevent a drawback from being caused by idle ejection on the apparatus side due to the continuous use in a state in which the amount of the residual liquid in the liquid cartridge is completely nulled.
- a dot count value corresponding to an amount of storage of the liquid in the buffer chamber is preset to the predetermined dot value, and after the absence of the liquid is judged, the liquid ejection processing is executed by the apparatus within an allowable range of the amount of storage of the liquid in the buffer chamber, and the liquid cartridge is then exchanged. Therefore, the amount of the liquid remaining in the liquid cartridge to be discarded due to the exchange can be minimized because the liquid in the buffer chamber has already been consumed almost perfectly.
- a liquid cartridge, a liquid ejection apparatus and a liquid ejecting control method which can minimize an amount of a liquid remaining in the liquid cartridge, and furthermore, can reliably prevent a drawback from being caused by idle hitting on an apparatus side.
- FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic structure of a liquid cartridge according to an embodiment of the invention
- FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an ink liquid ejection control method in an ink jet printer mounting the liquid cartridge illustrated in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a graph showing a relationship between a dot count value and an ink consumption amount in the ink liquid ejection control method illustrated in FIG. 2 ;
- FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing another ink liquid ejection control method in an ink jet printer mounting the liquid cartridge illustrated in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic structure of the liquid cartridge according to the embodiment of the invention
- FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an ink liquid ejection control method in an ink jet printer mounting the liquid cartridge illustrated in FIG. 1
- FIG. 3 is a graph showing a relationship between a dot count value and an amount of consumption of an ink in the ink liquid ejection control method illustrated in FIG. 2 .
- an ink cartridge (a liquid cartridge) 1 is of an atmosphere communication type comprising, in a container body 3 to be attached to a cartridge attachment portion 2 of an ink jet printer (apparatus), an ink chamber (a liquid chamber) 5 for accommodating an ink liquid 4 , a liquid supply port 7 to be connected to an ink liquid receiving portion (a liquid receiving portion) 2 a of the cartridge attachment portion 2 , a liquid passage 9 for causing the ink chamber 5 to communicate with the liquid supply port 7 , an atmosphere communication opening (not shown) for introducing outside air into the ink chamber 5 with a consumption of the ink liquid 4 in the ink chamber 5 , pressure regulating means (negative pressure generating means) 11 provided in the middle of the liquid passage 9 and serving to regulate a pressure of an ink liquid to be supplied to the ink liquid receiving portion 2 a through the liquid supply port 7 so as to be a predetermined pressure, and an ink end sensor (a liquid sensor) 13 provided in the middle of the liquid passage 9 on an atmosphere communication opening (not shown) for introducing outside
- the cartridge attachment portion 2 is provided in a carriage (not shown) mounting a printing head (a liquid ejection head) for ejecting an ink liquid onto a paper (a medium) and disposed to be reciprocable in an orthogonal direction to a direction of delivery of the paper, for example.
- a printing head a liquid ejection head
- the ink end sensor 13 is ink liquid presence or absence detecting means for generating an oscillation by a piezoelectric vibrator and detecting a presence or absence of the ink liquid based on a residual oscillation changed depending on whether the ink liquid or the air is present in the liquid passage 9 .
- the ink end sensor 13 detects that the ink liquid is not present in the case in which the ink liquid in the ink chamber 5 is completely consumed and the air introduced from the atmosphere communication opening into the ink chamber 5 enters the liquid passage 9 , and outputs a signal indicative of no ink liquid.
- a buffer chamber 15 storing the ink liquid 4 to be supplied to the liquid supply port 7 through the pressure regulating means 11 and capable of supplying the ink liquid in a constant amount after the ink end sensor 13 detects no ink liquid is provided on the liquid passage 9 between the ink end sensor 13 and the pressure regulating means 11 .
- an amount of storage of the ink liquid (an amount of storage of liquid storage) in the buffer chamber 15 including the capacity of the liquid passage 9 between the ink end sensor 13 and the pressure regulating means 11 is set to be substantially 10% of an effective ink liquid amount (an effective liquid amount) to be accommodated in the ink cartridge 1 .
- the capacity of the buffer chamber may include the capacity of the liquid passage between the ink end sensor 13 and the pressure regulating means 11 .
- the effective liquid amount of the ink cartridge 1 indicates an amount of storage of the liquid to be accommodated in at least the ink chamber 5 and the buffer chamber 15 .
- the amount of storage 6 of the ink liquid in the buffer chamber 15 is substantially 1 gram.
- a control circuit 19 on the ink jet printer side judges that an ink low state in which the amount of the residual ink liquid in the ink chamber 5 is small is brought.
- the ink cartridge 1 is provided with a memory circuit 17 for storing information about the amount of the residual ink liquid 4 .
- the memory circuit 17 is connected to a connecting terminal 18 on an external surface of the container body 3 .
- the ink end sensor 13 is also connected to the connecting terminal 18 .
- the connecting terminal 18 is electrically connected to a connecting terminal 2 b on the cartridge attachment portion 2 side and the ink end sensor 13 and the memory circuit 17 are connected to the control circuit 19 on the printer side through the connecting terminals 2 b and 18 .
- the control circuit 19 executes a dot count processing of counting and calculating the quantity of the droplets of the ink liquid 4 ejected from a nozzle of the printing head in the printing processing of the ink jet printer, executes a maintenance processing such as cleaning corresponding to an operating situation of the ink jet printer or detects the presence of the ink liquid 4 in the ink chamber 5 from a signal output from the ink end sensor 13 and finally gives an instruction for stopping the printing and exchanging the ink cartridge 1 based on a dot count value of the droplets of the ink liquid 4 which is counted and calculated.
- control circuit 19 controls a processing of ejecting the ink liquid 4 in the ink jet printer corresponding to the amount of the residual ink liquid in the ink cartridge 1 .
- control circuit 19 controls the processing of ejecting the ink liquid 4 by the ink liquid ejection control method shown in FIG. 2 .
- Step S 101 it is judged whether the ink cartridge 1 is attached to the cartridge attachment portion 2 or not. If it is judged that the ink cartridge 1 is attached, a dot count processing of counting and calculating the quantity of the droplets of the ink liquid 4 ejected from the printing head in the printing processing is started (Step S 102 ).
- Step S 103 there is executed a dot count judgment processing of judging whether or not a count value obtained by the dot count processing reaches the effective ink liquid amount of the ink cartridge 1 which is preset.
- Step S 104 the processing proceeds to Step S 104 in which the use of the ink cartridge 1 is stopped as an ink end.
- Step S 103 If it is judged that the dot count value is smaller than 100% at the Step S 103 , the processing proceeds to next Step S 111 .
- Step S 111 it is judged whether an ink presence or absence detecting condition for detecting the presence or absence of the ink liquid is satisfied or not based on the signal output from the ink end sensor 13 .
- the condition for detecting the presence or absence of the ink is that a timing of a paper feed/discharge, a pause for a print job or a start of a cleaning processing is given or not, for example. By judging whether it is in a preset timing, it is judged whether the ink presence or absence detecting condition to be a requirement for executing the detection is satisfied or not.
- Step S 111 If it is judged that the ink presence or absence detecting condition is satisfied at the Step S 111 , the processing proceeds to next Step S 112 in which the presence or absence of the ink liquid is detected by the ink end sensor 13 (an ink liquid presence judgment processing).
- Step S 112 If it is judged that the ink liquid is present at the Step S 112 , the past dots are counted continuously (Step S 113 ) and the processing returns to the Step S 103 .
- Step S 112 if it is judged that the ink is not present at the Step S 112 , the processing proceeds to Step S 121 .
- Step S 121 it is judged that the state of ink low is brought when it is judged that the ink liquid is present immediately before, and there is executed a dot count correction processing of correcting the dot count value obtained when it is judged that the ink liquid is present immediately before into a predetermined dot count value (for example, 90%) which is preset, and furthermore, of adding the dot count values calculated from the time that the ink liquid is judged to be present immediately before to a current time to the predetermined dot count value thus corrected. And then the processing returns to the Step S 103 .
- a predetermined dot count value for example, 90%
- the ink liquid 4 is also consumed by the maintenance processing such as the cleaning in addition to the printing processing which is subjected to the dot counting.
- the number of executions of the maintenance processing such as the cleaning is changed depending on a situation of the use of the printer by a user.
- the dot count value of 100% to be the effective ink liquid amount is selected in such a manner that the effective ink liquid amount of the ink cartridge 1 is consumed by substantially 10 grams as shown in FIG. 3 .
- the ink liquid 4 corresponding to substantially 10% of the effective ink liquid amount in the ink cartridge 1 remains in the buffer chamber 15 provided on the liquid passage 9 at a downstream of the ink end sensor 13 when it is detected, by the ink end sensor 13 , that the ink liquid is not left.
- the printing processing of the ink jet printer is executed within an allowable range corresponding to substantially 10% of the effective ink liquid amount of the ink cartridge 1 and the ink cartridge 1 is then exchanged after it is detected, by the ink end sensor 13 , that the ink liquid is not left, therefore, the amount of the ink liquid remaining in the ink cartridge 1 to be discharged by the exchange can be minimized because the ink liquid 4 in the buffer chamber 5 has been consumed almost completely.
- the count value of the dot count processing which is obtained by counting and calculating the quantity of the droplets of the ink liquid 4 is corrected by the dot count correction processing at the Step S 121 .
- the effective ink liquid amount to be used in the dot count judgment processing is set to be a mean dot count value in the consumption in a general application state, and furthermore, the amount of storage of the ink liquid in the buffer chamber 15 of the ink cartridge 1 is set to be substantially 10% of the effective ink liquid amount as described above, for example, it is possible to prevent the generation of the idle ejecting also in the case in which an exchange in progress, that is, a removal of the ink cartridge 1 from the ink jet printer in the middle of use or a reattachment is repeated.
- FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing another ink liquid ejection control method in an inkjet printer mounting the liquid cartridge illustrated in FIG. 1 . That is, the control circuit on the ink jet printer side of the invention can control the processing of ejecting the ink liquid 4 by the liquid ejection control method shown in FIG. 4 .
- Step S 101 it is judged whether the ink cartridge 1 is attached to the cartridge attachment portion 2 or not. If it is judged that the ink cartridge 1 is attached, a dot count processing of counting and calculating the quantity of the droplets of the ink liquid 4 ejected from the printing head in the printing processing is started (Step S 102 ).
- Step S 103 there is executed a dot count judgment processing of judging whether or not a count value obtained by the dot count processing reaches the effective ink liquid amount of the ink cartridge 1 which is preset.
- Step S 104 the processing proceeds to Step S 104 in which the use of the ink cartridge 1 is stopped as an ink end.
- Step S 103 If it is judged that the dot count value is smaller than 100% at the Step S 103 , the processing proceeds to next Step S 111 .
- Step S 111 it is judged whether an ink presence or absence detecting condition for detecting the presence or absence of the ink liquid is satisfied or not based on the signal output from the ink end sensor 13 .
- the condition for detecting the presence or absence of the ink is that a timing of a paper feed/discharge, a pause for a print job or a start of a cleaning processing is given or not, for example. By judging whether it is in a preset timing, it is judged whether the ink presence or absence detecting condition to be a requirement for executing the detection is satisfied or not.
- Step S 111 If it is judged that the ink presence or absence detecting condition is satisfied at the Step S 111 , the processing proceeds to next Step S 112 in which the presence or absence of the ink liquid is detected by the ink end sensor 13 (an ink liquid presence judgment processing).
- Step S 112 If it is judged that the ink liquid is present at the Step S 112 , the past dots are counted continuously (Step S 113 ) and the processing returns to the Step S 103 .
- Step S 112 the processing proceeds to Step S 122 .
- a predetermined dot count judgment processing of judging whether the dot count value counted and calculated after the absence of the ink liquid is judged reaches a predetermined dot count value (a dot count value corresponding to an amount of storage of the ink liquid in the buffer chamber) or not.
- step S 104 the processing proceeds to step S 104 in which the use of the ink cartridge 1 is stopped as an ink end.
- Step S 123 If it is judged that the dot count value after the absence of the ink liquid is judged does not reach a predetermined dot count value, the past dots are counted continuously (Step S 123 ) and the processing returns to the Step S 122 .
- the ink ejection control method as shown in FIG. 4 it is judged in the predetermined dot count judgment processing whether the dot count after the absence of the ink liquid is judged reaches the predetermined dot count value (for example, 10% of the effective ink liquid amount) which is preset, if the dot count reaches the predetermined dot count value, the use of the ink cartridge 1 is stopped as an ink end.
- the predetermined dot count value for example, 10% of the effective ink liquid amount
- a dot count value corresponding to an amount of storage of the ink liquid in the buffer chamber 15 is preset to the predetermined dot value, and after the absence of the ink liquid is judged, the liquid ejection processing is executed by the ink jet printer within an allowable range of the amount of storage of the ink liquid in the buffer chamber corresponding to 10% of the effective ink liquid amount of the ink cartridge 1 , and the liquid cartridge is then exchanged. Therefore, the amount of the ink liquid remaining in the liquid cartridge to be discarded due to the exchange can be minimized because the ink liquid 4 in the buffer chamber 15 has already been consumed almost perfectly.
- the effective ink liquid amount to be used in the dot count judgment processing is set to be a mean dot count value in the consumption in a general application state, and furthermore, the amount of storage of the ink liquid in the buffer chamber 15 of the ink cartridge 1 is set to be substantially 10% of the effective ink liquid amount as described above, for example, it is possible to prevent the generation of the idle ejecting also in the case in which an exchange in progress, that is, a removal of the ink cartridge 1 from the ink jet printer in the middle of use or a reattachment is repeated.
- the amount of storage of the ink liquid in the buffer chamber 15 is not restricted to substantially 10% of the effective amount of the ink liquid to be accommodated in the ink cartridge 1 described in the embodiment.
- the amount of storage of the ink liquid in the buffer chamber 15 can also be set corresponding to a standard use amount (a printing amount for one page) in the printing operation of the ink jet printer over one paper.
- the ink jet printer can reliably complete the printing processing for one page. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the ink liquid 4 from being gone in the middle of the printing processing to cause the page to be wasted due to the incomplete end of the printing processing over the page.
- the ink end sensor 13 When it is detected, by the ink end sensor 13 , that the ink liquid is not left, furthermore, it is clear that the ink liquid 4 corresponding to the printing processing for one page remains in the buffer chamber 15 . Therefore, the subsequent printing processing can be prevented from being continuously carried out carelessly for a long period of time. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent a drawback from being caused by the idle ejecting on the ink jet printer side due to the continuous use in a state in which the amount of the residual ink liquid in the ink cartridge 1 is nulled completely.
- the amount of storage of the ink liquid in the buffer chamber 15 can also be set to be a capacity corresponding to a maximum value of the amount of consumption of the ink liquid to be consumed in the maintenance processing such as the cleaning (a liquid consumption amount) by the ink jet printer.
- the cleaning processing is set to have three levels and the amount of the ink liquid to be consumed on each of the levels is varied.
- the amount of storage of the ink liquid in the buffer chamber 15 is set corresponding to the cleaning processing on a level “ 3 ” in which the amount of consumption of the ink liquid has a maximum value, therefore, it is apparent that the ink liquid 4 which can be subjected to the execution of the cleaning processing on the level “ 3 ” remains in the buffer chamber 15 when it is detected, by the ink end sensor 13 , that the ink liquid is not left. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably execute the cleaning processing on the level “ 3 ” in which the amount of consumption of the ink liquid has the maximum value until it is detected, by the ink end sensor 13 , that the ink liquid is not left.
- the ink cartridge 1 should be exchanged quickly after the residual ink liquid is consumed by the application of the printing processing corresponding to the amount of the residual ink liquid in place thereof.
- the subsequent printing processing can be prevented from being continuously carried out carelessly for a long period of time.
- the amount of storage of the ink liquid in the buffer chamber 15 can also be set corresponding to an initial filling amount of the ink liquid 4 to be filled in the passage from the ink cartridge 1 to the printing head by the ink jet printer when the ink cartridge 1 is attached to the cartridge attachment portion 2 of the ink jet printer.
- the ink liquid 4 corresponding to the amount of initial filling in the attachment to the ink jet printer remains in the buffer chamber 15 provided on the liquid passage 9 at the downstream side of the ink end sensor 13 when the absence of the residual ink liquid is detected by the ink end sensor 13 .
- the amount of the residual ink liquid in the ink cartridge 1 can be prevented from being completely nulled so that the initial filling can be executed safely, and at the same time, the generation of the idle ejecting can be prevented even if the initial filling is executed when the ink cartridge 1 is attached to the cartridge attachment portion 2 of the ink jet printer again.
- the ink cartridge 1 should be exchanged quickly after the residual ink liquid is alternatively consumed by the employment of a normal processing corresponding to the initial filling amount. Consequently, the subsequent printing processing can be prevented from being continuously carried out carelessly for a long period of time. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent a drawback from being caused by the idle ejecting on the ink jet printer side due to the continuous use in a state in which the amount of the residual ink liquid in the ink cartridge 1 is completely nulled.
- the amount of storage of the ink liquid in the buffer chamber 15 can also be set corresponding to the amount of the residual ink liquid in the ink cartridge 1 (the amount of the residual liquid) to be a reference for prohibiting the maintenance processing such as the cleaning by the ink jet printer.
- the ink cartridge 1 in which the amount of storage of the ink liquid in the buffer chamber 15 is thus set, when the absence of the residual ink liquid is detected by the ink end sensor 13 , the amount of the ink liquid remaining in the buffer chamber 15 is clear.
- the maintenance processing such as the cleaning is not executed, therefore, it is preferable that the ink cartridge 1 should be exchanged quickly after the residual ink liquid is alternatively consumed by the employment of the printing processing corresponding to the amount of the residual ink liquid. Consequently, the subsequent printing processing can be prevented from being continuously carried out carelessly for a long period of time.
- the ink low period determined by the amount of storage of the ink liquid in the buffer chamber 15 is set to be the longest timing at a frequency at which the presence of the ink is detected in the ink liquid presence judgment processing. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the ink cartridge 1 from actually becoming an ink end when the ink end sensor 13 detects the absence of the residual ink liquid.
- the use of the liquid cartridge according to the invention is not restricted to the ink cartridge 1 to be attached to the ink jet printer which is the apparatus comprising the printing head to be the liquid ejection head as in the embodiment.
- the invention can also be applied to a liquid cartridge which is to be attached to a liquid ejection apparatus using a liquid ejection head for discharging a liquid such as a coloring agent ejecting head to be used for manufacturing a color filter of a liquid crystal display, an electrode material ejecting head to be used for forming an electrode of an organic EL display or an FED (a surface emitting display), and furthermore, a bioorganism ejecting head to be used for manufacturing a biochip, and a sample ejecting apparatus to be a precision pipette.
- a liquid ejection head for discharging a liquid such as a coloring agent ejecting head to be used for manufacturing a color filter of a liquid crystal display, an electrode material ejecting head to be used for forming an electrode of an organic EL display or an FED (a surface emitting display), and furthermore, a bioorganism ejecting head to be used for manufacturing a biochip, and a sample ejecting apparatus to
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Abstract
An ink cartridge 1 attachable to an ink jet printer, includes a liquid chamber 5 for accommodating an ink liquid 4, a liquid supply port 7 to be connected to a liquid receiving portion 2 a on the ink jet printer side, a liquid passage 9 for causing the liquid chamber 5 to communicate with the liquid supply port 7, and an ink end sensor 13 forming a part of the liquid passage 9 and serving to detect a presence or absence of the ink liquid 4 in the liquid chamber 5. The liquid passage 9 on a downstream of the ink end sensor 13 is provided with a buffer chamber 15 capable of storing the ink liquid 4 to be supplied to the liquid supply port 7 and supplying the ink liquid in a constant amount after the ink end sensor 13 detects that the liquid is not present. An amount of storage of the liquid in the buffer chamber 15 is set to be substantially 10% of an effective amount of the ink liquid to be accommodated in the liquid cartridge 1.
Description
- 1. Technical Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a liquid cartridge which is suitable for an ink cartridge to be attached to an ink jet printer, for example, and a liquid ejection apparatus to which the liquid cartridge is attachable. Also, the present invention further related to a liquid ejection control method in an apparatus using the liquid cartridge.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- As an ink cartridge to be attached to an ink jet printer, there has variously been proposed a liquid cartridge comprising, in a container body to be attached to a printer (an apparatus), a liquid chamber for accommodating an ink liquid (a liquid), a liquid supply port to be connected to an ink liquid receiving portion (a liquid receiving portion) on the printer side, a liquid passage for causing the liquid chamber to communicate with the liquid supply port, and an ink end sensor (a liquid end sensor) provided in the middle of the liquid passage and serving to detect the presence of an ink in the liquid chamber (for example, see JP-A-2003-39694 Publication).
- On the printer side where such an ink cartridge is used, for example, there is provided a control circuit for monitoring an output of an ink end sensor such as an optical sensor for optically detecting the presence of an ink or an electrical sensor for electrically detecting the presence of the ink and giving a notice of an exchange time for the ink cartridge.
- When the ink end sensor provided on the ink cartridge usually detects the absence of the ink liquid, however, the ink liquid remains in the liquid passage between the ink end sensor and the liquid supply port. For this reason, even if the absence of the ink liquid is detected by the ink end sensor, it is wasteful to instantly exchange the ink cartridge since the remaining ink is discarded in a non-use state.
- In a related art ink cartridge, however, an amount of an ink remaining in the liquid passage between the ink end sensor and the liquid supply port is not grasped quantitatively. When the absence of the ink liquid is detected by the ink end sensor and is then used carelessly and continuously, therefore, there is a possibility that the ink might run out in the middle of a page to waste a paper or the remaining ink might be used up to damage a printing head due to idle ejecting of the printing head.
- It is an object of the invention to solve the problems and to provide a liquid cartridge, a liquid ejection apparatus and a liquid ejection control method which can minimize an amount of a liquid remaining in the liquid cartridge, and furthermore, can reliably prevent a drawback from being caused by idle ejecting on an apparatus side.
- The object is achieved by the following embodiments.
- (1). A liquid cartridge mountable to an apparatus, comprising:
- a liquid chamber, having a first capacity to store a liquid therein;
- a liquid supplying port, connectable to a liquid receiving portion of the apparatus;
- a liquid passage, through which the liquid chamber and the liquid supplying port communicate with each other;
- a liquid sensor, forming a part of the liquid passage and detecting a presence or absence of the liquid in the liquid chamber; and
- a buffer chamber, having a second capacity to store the liquid therein and communicating with the liquid passage at a downstream of the liquid sensor, wherein
- the second capacity is set to be substantially 10% of an effective liquid amount of the liquid cartridge.
- According to the liquid cartridge having the structure, it is apparent that the liquid corresponding to substantially 10% of the effective amount of the liquid in the liquid cartridge remains in the buffer chamber provided on the liquid passage at the downstream of the liquid sensor when the absence of the residual liquid is detected by the liquid sensor.
- If the liquid ejection processing is executed by the apparatus within an allowable range corresponding to substantially 10% of the effective liquid amount of the liquid cartridge and the liquid cartridge is then exchanged after the absence of the residual liquid is detected by the liquid sensor, therefore, the amount of the liquid remaining in the liquid cartridge to be discarded due to the exchange can be minimized because the liquid in the buffer chamber has already been consumed almost perfectly.
- When the absence of the residual liquid is detected by the liquid sensor, moreover, the amount of the liquid remaining in the buffer chamber is clear. Therefore, a subsequent processing can be prevented from being continuously carried out carelessly for a long period of time. Consequently, it is possible to reliably prevent a drawback from being caused by idle ejecting on the apparatus side due to the continuous use in a state in which the amount of the residual liquid in the liquid cartridge is completely nulled.
- (2). A liquid cartridge mountable to an apparatus, comprising:
- a liquid chamber, having a first capacity to store a liquid therein;
- a liquid supplying port, connectable to a liquid receiving portion of the apparatus;
- a liquid passage, through which the liquid chamber and the liquid supplying port communicate with each other;
- a liquid sensor, forming a part of the liquid passage and detecting a presence or absence of the liquid in the liquid chamber; and
- a buffer chamber, having a second capacity to store the liquid therein and communicating with the liquid passage at a downstream of the liquid sensor, wherein
- the second capacity is set to be a standard use amount consumed when the apparatus ejects the liquid to one medium.
- According to the liquid cartridge having the structure, it is apparent that the liquid corresponding to the standard use amount in the ejection of the liquid onto the medium by the apparatus remains in the buffer chamber provided on the liquid passage at the downstream side of the liquid sensor when the absence of the residual liquid is detected by the liquid sensor.
- Also after the absence of the residual liquid is detected by the liquid sensor, therefore, the apparatus can reliably end the processing of ejecting the liquid onto the medium so that the processing for the medium can be prevented from being ended incompletely.
- If the processing of ejecting the liquid onto the medium is executed and the liquid cartridge is then exchanged after the absence of the residual liquid is detected by the liquid sensor, moreover, the amount of the liquid remaining in the liquid cartridge to be discarded due to the exchange can be minimized because the liquid in the buffer chamber has already been consumed almost perfectly.
- When the absence of the residual liquid is detected by the liquid sensor, furthermore, the amount of the liquid remaining in the buffer chamber is clear. Therefore, the subsequent processing can be prevented from being continuously carried out carelessly for a long period of time. Consequently, it is possible to reliably prevent a drawback from being caused by idle ejecting on the apparatus side due to the continuous use in a state in which the amount of the residual liquid in the liquid cartridge is completely nulled.
- (3). A liquid cartridge mountable to an apparatus, comprising:
- a liquid chamber, having a first capacity to store a liquid therein;
- a liquid supplying port, connectable to a liquid receiving portion of the apparatus;
- a liquid passage, through which the liquid chamber and the liquid supplying port communicate with each other;
- a liquid sensor, forming a part of the liquid passage and detecting a presence or absence of the liquid in the liquid chamber; and
- a buffer chamber, having a second capacity to store the liquid therein and communicating with the liquid passage at a downstream of the liquid sensor, wherein
- the second capacity is set to be a maximum consumption amount consumed when the apparatus is subjected to a maintenance processing.
- According to the liquid cartridge having the structure, it is apparent that the liquid in the amount corresponding to the maximum value of the consumption amount of the liquid consumed in the maintenance processing such as cleaning by the apparatus remains in the buffer chamber provided on the liquid passage at the downstream side of the liquid sensor when the absence of the residual liquid is detected by the liquid sensor.
- Therefore, it is possible to reliably execute the cleaning processing in which the consumption amount of the liquid is maximized until the absence of the residual liquid is detected by the liquid sensor.
- When the absence of the residual liquid is detected by the liquid sensor, moreover, the amount of the liquid remaining in the buffer chamber is clear. In the case in which the maintenance processing such as the cleaning is not executed, therefore, it is preferable that the residual liquid should be alternatively consumed by the employment of a normal processing corresponding to the amount of the residual liquid and the liquid cartridge should be then exchanged quickly. Consequently, a subsequent processing can be prevented from being continuously carried out carelessly for a long period of time. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent a drawback from being caused by idle ejecting by the apparatus due to the continuous use in a state in which the amount of the residual liquid in the liquid cartridge is completely nulled.
- (4). A liquid cartridge mountable to an apparatus, comprising:
- a liquid chamber, having a first capacity to store a liquid therein;
- a liquid supplying port, connectable to a liquid receiving portion of the apparatus;
- a liquid passage, through which the liquid chamber and the liquid supplying port communicate with each other;
- a liquid sensor, forming a part of the liquid passage and detecting a presence or absence of the liquid in the liquid chamber; and
- a buffer chamber, having a second capacity to store the liquid therein and communicating with the liquid passage at a downstream of the liquid sensor, wherein
- the second capacity is set to be an initial filling amount for filling the liquid in a passage from the liquid cartridge to a liquid ejection head when the liquid cartridge is attached to the apparatus.
- According to the liquid cartridge having the structure, it is apparent that the liquid corresponding to the amount of initial filling in the attachment to the apparatus remains in the buffer chamber provided on the liquid passage at the downstream of the liquid sensor when the absence of the residual liquid is detected by the liquid sensor.
- In a state in which the absence of the residual liquid is not detected by the liquid sensor when the liquid cartridge is to be once removed from the apparatus in the middle of the use, accordingly, the amount of the residual liquid in the liquid cartridge can be prevented from being completely nulled so that the initial filling can be executed safely, and at the same time, the generation of the idle ejecting can be prevented even if the initial filling is executed when the liquid cartridge is attached to the apparatus again.
- When the absence of the residual liquid is detected by the liquid sensor, moreover, the amount of the liquid remaining in the buffer chamber is clear. In the case in which the initial filling is not carried out, therefore, it is preferable that the residual liquid should be alternatively consumed by the employment of a normal processing corresponding to the amount of the initial filling and the liquid cartridge should be then exchanged quickly. Consequently, the subsequent processing can be prevented from being continuously carried out carelessly for a long period of time. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent a drawback from being caused by idle ejecting on the apparatus side due to the continuous use in a state in which the amount of the residual liquid in the liquid cartridge is completely nulled.
- (5). A liquid cartridge mountable to an apparatus, comprising:
- a liquid chamber, having a first capacity to store a liquid therein;
- a liquid supplying port, connectable to a liquid receiving portion of the apparatus;
- a liquid passage, through which the liquid chamber and the liquid supplying port communicate with each other;
- a liquid sensor, forming a part of the liquid passage and detecting a presence or absence of the liquid in the liquid chamber; and
- a buffer chamber, having a second capacity to store the liquid therein and communicating with the liquid passage at a downstream of the liquid sensor, wherein
- the second capacity is set to be a reference amount for prohibiting a maintenance processing.
- According to the liquid cartridge having the structure, it is apparent that the liquid corresponding to the amount of the residual liquid in the liquid chamber to be the reference amount for prohibiting the maintenance processing such as the cleaning by the apparatus remains in the buffer chamber provided on the downstream of the liquid sensor when the absence of the residual liquid is detected by the liquid sensor.
- Therefore, it is possible to reliably execute the maintenance processing such as the cleaning until the absence of the residual liquid is detected by the liquid sensor.
- When the absence of the residual liquid is detected by the liquid sensor, moreover, the amount of the liquid remaining in the buffer chamber is clear. In the case in which the maintenance processing such as the cleaning is not executed, therefore, it is preferable that the residual liquid should be alternatively consumed by the employment of a normal processing corresponding to the amount of the residual liquid and the liquid cartridge should be then exchanged quickly. Consequently, the subsequent processing can be prevented from being continuously carried out carelessly for a long period of time. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent a drawback from being caused by idle ejecting on the apparatus side due to the continuous use in a state in which the amount of the residual liquid in the liquid cartridge is completely nulled.
- (6). A liquid ejection control method for an apparatus comprising a liquid receiving portion to which a liquid cartridge provided with a liquid chamber and a liquid sensor is detachably attached, and a liquid ejection head ejecting a liquid supplied from the liquid cartridge as liquid droplets to a medium, the method comprising:
- a dot count processing of counting and calculating the number of the liquid droplets ejected from the liquid ejection head after attaching the liquid cartridge to the liquid receiving portion to obtain a count value;
- a dot count judgment processing of judging whether the count value reaches a predetermined value;
- a liquid presence judgment processing of judging a presence or absence of the liquid stored in the liquid chamber by the liquid sensor in a predetermined interval;
- a dot count correction processing of modifying, when it is judged that the count value does not reach the predetermined value in the dot count judgment processing and the absence of the liquid is judged in the liquid presence judgment processing, the count value at a present time to a previous count value of when the presence of the liquid has judged immediately before judging the absence of the liquid and, of adding, to the previous count value, a additional count value obtained from when the presence of the liquid has judged to the present time to correct the previous count value; and
- an ejection stop processing of stopping ejecting the liquid droplets when it is judged that the corrected count value reaches the predetermined value in the dot count judging processing.
- According to the liquid ejection control method described above, the count value of the dot count processing which is obtained by counting and calculating the quantity of droplets is corrected in the dot count correction processing.
- Also in the case in which there is an error of the dot count processing based on a cumulative count after the attachment of the liquid cartridge to the liquid receiving portion, a variation in the ejection amount of the liquid ejection head or a variation in the volume of the liquid chamber and the amount of the liquid which is accommodated, it is possible to enhance precision in the count value for judging whether the predetermined value (for example, the effective liquid amount of the liquid cartridge) is reached or not in the dot count judgment processing. Thus, it is possible to reduce a margin for the detection of the residual amount.
- (7). A liquid ejection control method for an apparatus comprising a liquid receiving portion to which a liquid cartridge provided with a liquid chamber and a liquid sensor is detachably attached, and a liquid ejection head ejecting liquid droplets supplied from the liquid cartridge as liquid drop lets to a medium, the method comprising;
- a dot count processing of counting and calculating the number of the liquid droplets ejected from the liquid ejection head after attaching the liquid cartridge to the liquid receiving portion to obtain a count value;
- a first dot count judgment processing of judging whether the count value reaches a first value;
- a liquid presence judgment processing of judging a presence or absence of the liquid stored in the liquid chamber by the liquid sensor in a predetermined interval;
- a second dot count judgment processing of judging, when it is judged that the count value does not reach the first value in the first dot count judgment processing and the absence of the liquid is judged in the liquid presence judgment processing, whether the count value reaches a second value; and
- an ejection stop processing of stopping ejecting the liquid droplets when it is judged that the count value reaches the first value in the first dot count judgment processing or the second value in the second dot count judgment processing.
- According to the liquid ejection control method described above, the liquid ejection is stopped when it is judged, in the second dot count judgment, that the dot count value counted and calculated after the absence of the liquid is judged reaches the second value.
- Consequently, a dot count value corresponding to an amount of storage of the liquid in a buffer chamber provided at the downstream of the liquid sensor is preset to the second value, and after the absence of the liquid is judged, the liquid ejection processing is executed by the apparatus within an allowable range of the liquid storage amount in the buffer chamber, and the liquid cartridge is then exchanged. Therefore, the amount of the liquid remaining in the liquid cartridge to be discarded due to the exchange can be minimized because the liquid in the buffer chamber has already been consumed almost perfectly.
- (8). A liquid ejection apparatus to which a liquid cartridge comprising a liquid chamber and a liquid sensor is detachably attached, the apparatus comprising:
- a liquid ejection head, ejecting a liquid supplied from the liquid chamber as liquid droplets to a medium;
- a dot counter, counting the number of the liquid droplets ejected from the liquid ejection head to obtain a count value,
- a detector, detecting a signal from the liquid sensor to judge a presence or absence of the liquid stored in the liquid chamber; and
- a controller, controlling the liquid ejection head to stop ejecting the liquid droplets based on the count value obtained by the dot counter and the signal detected by the detector.
- According to the liquid ejection apparatus, since the controller controls the liquid ejection head to stop ejecting based on the count value by the dot counter and the signal detected by the detector, it is possible to enhance a precision of judging the ink end.
- (9). A liquid ejection control method for an apparatus which is provided with a liquid ejection head for ejecting liquid droplets to a medium, and to which a liquid cartridge is detachably attached, the liquid cartridge comprising:
- a liquid chamber, storing a liquid therein;
- a liquid supplying port, supplying the liquid to the liquid ejection head;
- a liquid passage, through which the liquid chamber and the liquid supplying port communicate with each other;
- a liquid sensor, forming a part of the liquid passage and detecting a presence or absence of the liquid in the liquid chamber; and
- a buffer chamber, storing the liquid therein and communicating with the liquid passage at a downstream of the liquid sensor, the method comprising:
- detecting a signal output from the liquid sensor;
- judging the presence or absence of the liquid stored in the liquid chamber from the signal; and
- counting and calculating the number of the liquid droplets ejected from the liquid ejection head at least after the absence of the liquid is judged.
- According to the liquid ejection control method, since the number of the liquid droplets is counted and calculated at least after the absence of the liquid is judged by the liquid sensor, it is possible to enhance a precision of judging the ink, end.
- According to the liquid cartridge, the liquid ejection apparatus and the liquid ejecting control method of the invention, when the absence of the residual liquid is detected by the liquid end sensor, the amount of the liquid remaining in the buffer chamber is clear. Therefore, a subsequent processing can be prevented from being continuously carried out carelessly for a long period of time. Consequently, it is possible to reliably prevent a drawback from being caused by idle ejection on the apparatus side due to the continuous use in a state in which the amount of the residual liquid in the liquid cartridge is completely nulled.
- Also in the case in which there is an error of the dot count processing based on a cumulative count after the attachment of the liquid cartridge to the liquid receiving portion, a variation in the amount of ejection of the liquid ejection head or a variation in the capacity of the liquid chamber and the amount of the liquid which is accommodated, moreover, it is possible to enhance precision in the count value for judging whether the effective liquid amount of the liquid cartridge is reached or not in the dot count judgment processing. Thus, it is possible to reduce a margin for the detection of the residual amount.
- Also, a dot count value corresponding to an amount of storage of the liquid in the buffer chamber is preset to the predetermined dot value, and after the absence of the liquid is judged, the liquid ejection processing is executed by the apparatus within an allowable range of the amount of storage of the liquid in the buffer chamber, and the liquid cartridge is then exchanged. Therefore, the amount of the liquid remaining in the liquid cartridge to be discarded due to the exchange can be minimized because the liquid in the buffer chamber has already been consumed almost perfectly.
- Accordingly, it is possible to provide a liquid cartridge, a liquid ejection apparatus and a liquid ejecting control method which can minimize an amount of a liquid remaining in the liquid cartridge, and furthermore, can reliably prevent a drawback from being caused by idle hitting on an apparatus side.
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FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic structure of a liquid cartridge according to an embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an ink liquid ejection control method in an ink jet printer mounting the liquid cartridge illustrated inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a graph showing a relationship between a dot count value and an ink consumption amount in the ink liquid ejection control method illustrated inFIG. 2 ; and -
FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing another ink liquid ejection control method in an ink jet printer mounting the liquid cartridge illustrated inFIG. 1 . - A liquid cartridge according to an embodiment of the invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic structure of the liquid cartridge according to the embodiment of the invention,FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an ink liquid ejection control method in an ink jet printer mounting the liquid cartridge illustrated inFIG. 1 , andFIG. 3 is a graph showing a relationship between a dot count value and an amount of consumption of an ink in the ink liquid ejection control method illustrated inFIG. 2 . - As shown in
FIG. 1 , an ink cartridge (a liquid cartridge) 1 according to the embodiment is of an atmosphere communication type comprising, in acontainer body 3 to be attached to acartridge attachment portion 2 of an ink jet printer (apparatus), an ink chamber (a liquid chamber) 5 for accommodating anink liquid 4, a liquid supply port 7 to be connected to an ink liquid receiving portion (a liquid receiving portion) 2 a of thecartridge attachment portion 2, aliquid passage 9 for causing theink chamber 5 to communicate with the liquid supply port 7, an atmosphere communication opening (not shown) for introducing outside air into theink chamber 5 with a consumption of theink liquid 4 in theink chamber 5, pressure regulating means (negative pressure generating means) 11 provided in the middle of theliquid passage 9 and serving to regulate a pressure of an ink liquid to be supplied to the inkliquid receiving portion 2 a through the liquid supply port 7 so as to be a predetermined pressure, and an ink end sensor (a liquid sensor) 13 provided in the middle of theliquid passage 9 on an upstream side of the pressure regulating means 11 and serving to detect the presence of theink liquid 4 in theink chamber 5. - The
cartridge attachment portion 2 is provided in a carriage (not shown) mounting a printing head (a liquid ejection head) for ejecting an ink liquid onto a paper (a medium) and disposed to be reciprocable in an orthogonal direction to a direction of delivery of the paper, for example. - In the embodiment, the
ink end sensor 13 is ink liquid presence or absence detecting means for generating an oscillation by a piezoelectric vibrator and detecting a presence or absence of the ink liquid based on a residual oscillation changed depending on whether the ink liquid or the air is present in theliquid passage 9. Theink end sensor 13 detects that the ink liquid is not present in the case in which the ink liquid in theink chamber 5 is completely consumed and the air introduced from the atmosphere communication opening into theink chamber 5 enters theliquid passage 9, and outputs a signal indicative of no ink liquid. - In case of the ink cartridge 1 according to the embodiment, a
buffer chamber 15 storing theink liquid 4 to be supplied to the liquid supply port 7 through the pressure regulating means 11 and capable of supplying the ink liquid in a constant amount after theink end sensor 13 detects no ink liquid is provided on theliquid passage 9 between theink end sensor 13 and the pressure regulating means 11. - Furthermore, an amount of storage of the ink liquid (an amount of storage of liquid storage) in the
buffer chamber 15 including the capacity of theliquid passage 9 between theink end sensor 13 and the pressure regulating means 11 according to the embodiment is set to be substantially 10% of an effective ink liquid amount (an effective liquid amount) to be accommodated in the ink cartridge 1. That is, the capacity of the buffer chamber may include the capacity of the liquid passage between theink end sensor 13 and the pressure regulating means 11. The effective liquid amount of the ink cartridge 1 indicates an amount of storage of the liquid to be accommodated in at least theink chamber 5 and thebuffer chamber 15. - More specifically, in the case in which the effective ink liquid amount in the ink liquid to be accommodated in the ink cartridge 1 is substantially 10 grams, the amount of storage 6 of the ink liquid in the
buffer chamber 15 is substantially 1 gram. - When substantially 90% of the effective ink liquid amount is consumed, moreover, a
control circuit 19 on the ink jet printer side judges that an ink low state in which the amount of the residual ink liquid in theink chamber 5 is small is brought. - Moreover, the ink cartridge 1 according to the embodiment is provided with a
memory circuit 17 for storing information about the amount of theresidual ink liquid 4. Thememory circuit 17 is connected to a connectingterminal 18 on an external surface of thecontainer body 3. Moreover, theink end sensor 13 is also connected to the connectingterminal 18. - When the ink cartridge 1 is attached to the
cartridge attachment portion 2, the connectingterminal 18 is electrically connected to a connectingterminal 2 b on thecartridge attachment portion 2 side and theink end sensor 13 and thememory circuit 17 are connected to thecontrol circuit 19 on the printer side through the connectingterminals - The
control circuit 19 executes a dot count processing of counting and calculating the quantity of the droplets of theink liquid 4 ejected from a nozzle of the printing head in the printing processing of the ink jet printer, executes a maintenance processing such as cleaning corresponding to an operating situation of the ink jet printer or detects the presence of theink liquid 4 in theink chamber 5 from a signal output from theink end sensor 13 and finally gives an instruction for stopping the printing and exchanging the ink cartridge 1 based on a dot count value of the droplets of theink liquid 4 which is counted and calculated. - Furthermore, the
control circuit 19 according to the embodiment controls a processing of ejecting theink liquid 4 in the ink jet printer corresponding to the amount of the residual ink liquid in the ink cartridge 1. - More specifically, the
control circuit 19 controls the processing of ejecting theink liquid 4 by the ink liquid ejection control method shown inFIG. 2 . - First of all, it is judged whether the ink cartridge 1 is attached to the
cartridge attachment portion 2 or not (Step S101). If it is judged that the ink cartridge 1 is attached, a dot count processing of counting and calculating the quantity of the droplets of theink liquid 4 ejected from the printing head in the printing processing is started (Step S102). - Subsequently, there is executed a dot count judgment processing of judging whether or not a count value obtained by the dot count processing reaches the effective ink liquid amount of the ink cartridge 1 which is preset (Step S103).
- If it is judged that the dot count value reaches 100% (a ratio to the effective ink liquid amount) at the Step S103, the processing proceeds to Step S104 in which the use of the ink cartridge 1 is stopped as an ink end.
- If it is judged that the dot count value is smaller than 100% at the Step S103, the processing proceeds to next Step S111.
- At the Step S111, it is judged whether an ink presence or absence detecting condition for detecting the presence or absence of the ink liquid is satisfied or not based on the signal output from the
ink end sensor 13. The condition for detecting the presence or absence of the ink is that a timing of a paper feed/discharge, a pause for a print job or a start of a cleaning processing is given or not, for example. By judging whether it is in a preset timing, it is judged whether the ink presence or absence detecting condition to be a requirement for executing the detection is satisfied or not. - If it is judged that the ink presence or absence detecting condition is satisfied at the Step S111, the processing proceeds to next Step S112 in which the presence or absence of the ink liquid is detected by the ink end sensor 13 (an ink liquid presence judgment processing).
- If it is judged that the ink liquid is present at the Step S112, the past dots are counted continuously (Step S113) and the processing returns to the Step S103.
- On the other hand, if it is judged that the ink is not present at the Step S112, the processing proceeds to Step S121.
- At the Step S121, it is judged that the state of ink low is brought when it is judged that the ink liquid is present immediately before, and there is executed a dot count correction processing of correcting the dot count value obtained when it is judged that the ink liquid is present immediately before into a predetermined dot count value (for example, 90%) which is preset, and furthermore, of adding the dot count values calculated from the time that the ink liquid is judged to be present immediately before to a current time to the predetermined dot count value thus corrected. And then the processing returns to the Step S103.
- The
ink liquid 4 is also consumed by the maintenance processing such as the cleaning in addition to the printing processing which is subjected to the dot counting. In addition, the number of executions of the maintenance processing such as the cleaning is changed depending on a situation of the use of the printer by a user. - When the dot count value reaches 100% in a situation of an application in which an average cleaning processing is executed, therefore, the dot count value of 100% to be the effective ink liquid amount is selected in such a manner that the effective ink liquid amount of the ink cartridge 1 is consumed by substantially 10 grams as shown in
FIG. 3 . - According to the ink cartridge 1 in accordance with the embodiment, it is apparent that the
ink liquid 4 corresponding to substantially 10% of the effective ink liquid amount in the ink cartridge 1 remains in thebuffer chamber 15 provided on theliquid passage 9 at a downstream of theink end sensor 13 when it is detected, by theink end sensor 13, that the ink liquid is not left. - If the printing processing of the ink jet printer is executed within an allowable range corresponding to substantially 10% of the effective ink liquid amount of the ink cartridge 1 and the ink cartridge 1 is then exchanged after it is detected, by the
ink end sensor 13, that the ink liquid is not left, therefore, the amount of the ink liquid remaining in the ink cartridge 1 to be discharged by the exchange can be minimized because theink liquid 4 in thebuffer chamber 5 has been consumed almost completely. - When it is detected, by the
ink end sensor 13, that the ink liquid is not left, moreover, the amount of the ink liquid left in thebuffer chamber 5 is clear. Therefore, a subsequent printing processing is not continuously carried out carelessly for a long period of time. Consequently, it is possible to reliably prevent a drawback from being caused by idle ejecting on the ink jet printer side due to the continuous use in a state in which the amount of the residual ink liquid in the ink cartridge 1 is nulled completely. - According to the ink liquid ejection control method shown in
FIG. 2 , moreover, the count value of the dot count processing which is obtained by counting and calculating the quantity of the droplets of theink liquid 4 is corrected by the dot count correction processing at the Step S121. - Also in the case in which there is an error of the dot count processing which is made by cumulative counting after the attachment of the ink cartridge 1 to the ink
liquid receiving portion 2 a of thecartridge attachment portion 2, a variation in the amount of ejection of the printing head or a variation in the volume of theink chamber 5 or the amount of the ink liquid which is accommodated, therefore, it is possible to enhance precision in the count value with which it is judged whether or not the effective ink liquid amount of the ink cartridge 1 is reached in the dot count judgment processing at the Step S103. Thus, it is possible to reduce a margin for the detection of the residual amount. - If the effective ink liquid amount to be used in the dot count judgment processing is set to be a mean dot count value in the consumption in a general application state, and furthermore, the amount of storage of the ink liquid in the
buffer chamber 15 of the ink cartridge 1 is set to be substantially 10% of the effective ink liquid amount as described above, for example, it is possible to prevent the generation of the idle ejecting also in the case in which an exchange in progress, that is, a removal of the ink cartridge 1 from the ink jet printer in the middle of use or a reattachment is repeated. -
FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing another ink liquid ejection control method in an inkjet printer mounting the liquid cartridge illustrated inFIG. 1 . That is, the control circuit on the ink jet printer side of the invention can control the processing of ejecting theink liquid 4 by the liquid ejection control method shown inFIG. 4 . - First of all, it is judged whether the ink cartridge 1 is attached to the
cartridge attachment portion 2 or not (Step S101). If it is judged that the ink cartridge 1 is attached, a dot count processing of counting and calculating the quantity of the droplets of theink liquid 4 ejected from the printing head in the printing processing is started (Step S102). - Subsequently, there is executed a dot count judgment processing of judging whether or not a count value obtained by the dot count processing reaches the effective ink liquid amount of the ink cartridge 1 which is preset (Step S103).
- If it is judged that the dot count value reaches 100% (a ratio to the effective ink liquid amount) at the Step S103, the processing proceeds to Step S104 in which the use of the ink cartridge 1 is stopped as an ink end.
- If it is judged that the dot count value is smaller than 100% at the Step S103, the processing proceeds to next Step S111.
- At the Step S111, it is judged whether an ink presence or absence detecting condition for detecting the presence or absence of the ink liquid is satisfied or not based on the signal output from the
ink end sensor 13. The condition for detecting the presence or absence of the ink is that a timing of a paper feed/discharge, a pause for a print job or a start of a cleaning processing is given or not, for example. By judging whether it is in a preset timing, it is judged whether the ink presence or absence detecting condition to be a requirement for executing the detection is satisfied or not. - If it is judged that the ink presence or absence detecting condition is satisfied at the Step S111, the processing proceeds to next Step S112 in which the presence or absence of the ink liquid is detected by the ink end sensor 13 (an ink liquid presence judgment processing).
- If it is judged that the ink liquid is present at the Step S112, the past dots are counted continuously (Step S113) and the processing returns to the Step S103.
- On the other hand, if it is judged that the ink is not present at the Step S112, the processing proceeds to Step S122.
- At the step S122, there is executed a predetermined dot count judgment processing of judging whether the dot count value counted and calculated after the absence of the ink liquid is judged reaches a predetermined dot count value (a dot count value corresponding to an amount of storage of the ink liquid in the buffer chamber) or not.
- If it is judged that the dot count value after the absence of the ink liquid is judged reaches a predetermined dot count value (for example, 10% of the effective ink liquid amount), the processing proceeds to step S104 in which the use of the ink cartridge 1 is stopped as an ink end.
- On the other hand, If it is judged that the dot count value after the absence of the ink liquid is judged does not reach a predetermined dot count value, the past dots are counted continuously (Step S123) and the processing returns to the Step S122.
- According to the ink ejection control method as shown in
FIG. 4 , it is judged in the predetermined dot count judgment processing whether the dot count after the absence of the ink liquid is judged reaches the predetermined dot count value (for example, 10% of the effective ink liquid amount) which is preset, if the dot count reaches the predetermined dot count value, the use of the ink cartridge 1 is stopped as an ink end. - Consequently, a dot count value corresponding to an amount of storage of the ink liquid in the
buffer chamber 15 is preset to the predetermined dot value, and after the absence of the ink liquid is judged, the liquid ejection processing is executed by the ink jet printer within an allowable range of the amount of storage of the ink liquid in the buffer chamber corresponding to 10% of the effective ink liquid amount of the ink cartridge 1, and the liquid cartridge is then exchanged. Therefore, the amount of the ink liquid remaining in the liquid cartridge to be discarded due to the exchange can be minimized because theink liquid 4 in thebuffer chamber 15 has already been consumed almost perfectly. - Also, If the effective ink liquid amount to be used in the dot count judgment processing is set to be a mean dot count value in the consumption in a general application state, and furthermore, the amount of storage of the ink liquid in the
buffer chamber 15 of the ink cartridge 1 is set to be substantially 10% of the effective ink liquid amount as described above, for example, it is possible to prevent the generation of the idle ejecting also in the case in which an exchange in progress, that is, a removal of the ink cartridge 1 from the ink jet printer in the middle of use or a reattachment is repeated. - The amount of storage of the ink liquid in the
buffer chamber 15 is not restricted to substantially 10% of the effective amount of the ink liquid to be accommodated in the ink cartridge 1 described in the embodiment. - For example, the amount of storage of the ink liquid in the
buffer chamber 15 can also be set corresponding to a standard use amount (a printing amount for one page) in the printing operation of the ink jet printer over one paper. - In case of the ink cartridge 1 in which the amount of storage of the ink liquid in the
buffer chamber 15 is set, thus, it is apparent that theink liquid 4 capable of carrying out the printing operation for one page still remains in thebuffer chamber 15 provided on theliquid passage 9 at the downstream side of theink end sensor 13 when it is detected, by theink end sensor 13, that the ink liquid is not left. - Also after it is detected, by the
ink end sensor 13, that the ink liquid is not left, therefore, the ink jet printer can reliably complete the printing processing for one page. Consequently, it is possible to prevent theink liquid 4 from being gone in the middle of the printing processing to cause the page to be wasted due to the incomplete end of the printing processing over the page. - By executing the printing processing corresponding to one page and then exchanging the ink cartridge 1 after it is detected, by the
ink end sensor 13, that the ink liquid is not left, moreover, it is possible to minimize the amount of the ink liquid remaining in the ink cartridge 1 to be discarded by the exchange because theink liquid 4 in thebuffer chamber 15 has already been consumed almost completely. - When it is detected, by the
ink end sensor 13, that the ink liquid is not left, furthermore, it is clear that theink liquid 4 corresponding to the printing processing for one page remains in thebuffer chamber 15. Therefore, the subsequent printing processing can be prevented from being continuously carried out carelessly for a long period of time. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent a drawback from being caused by the idle ejecting on the ink jet printer side due to the continuous use in a state in which the amount of the residual ink liquid in the ink cartridge 1 is nulled completely. - Moreover, the amount of storage of the ink liquid in the
buffer chamber 15 can also be set to be a capacity corresponding to a maximum value of the amount of consumption of the ink liquid to be consumed in the maintenance processing such as the cleaning (a liquid consumption amount) by the ink jet printer. - For example, the cleaning processing is set to have three levels and the amount of the ink liquid to be consumed on each of the levels is varied.
- If the amount of storage of the ink liquid in the
buffer chamber 15 is set corresponding to the cleaning processing on a level “3” in which the amount of consumption of the ink liquid has a maximum value, therefore, it is apparent that theink liquid 4 which can be subjected to the execution of the cleaning processing on the level “3” remains in thebuffer chamber 15 when it is detected, by theink end sensor 13, that the ink liquid is not left. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably execute the cleaning processing on the level “3” in which the amount of consumption of the ink liquid has the maximum value until it is detected, by theink end sensor 13, that the ink liquid is not left. - When it is detected, by the
ink end sensor 13, that the ink liquid is not left, for example, the amount of the ink liquid left in thebuffer chamber 15 is clear. In the case in which the cleaning processing is not executed, therefore, it is preferable that the ink cartridge 1 should be exchanged quickly after the residual ink liquid is consumed by the application of the printing processing corresponding to the amount of the residual ink liquid in place thereof. The subsequent printing processing can be prevented from being continuously carried out carelessly for a long period of time. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent a drawback from being caused by the idle ejecting on the ink jet printer side due to the continuous use in a state in which the amount of the residual ink liquid in the ink cartridge 1 is nulled completely. - Furthermore, the amount of storage of the ink liquid in the
buffer chamber 15 can also be set corresponding to an initial filling amount of theink liquid 4 to be filled in the passage from the ink cartridge 1 to the printing head by the ink jet printer when the ink cartridge 1 is attached to thecartridge attachment portion 2 of the ink jet printer. - According to the ink cartridge 1 in which the amount of storage of the ink liquid in the
buffer chamber 15 is set, thus, it is apparent that theink liquid 4 corresponding to the amount of initial filling in the attachment to the ink jet printer remains in thebuffer chamber 15 provided on theliquid passage 9 at the downstream side of theink end sensor 13 when the absence of the residual ink liquid is detected by theink end sensor 13. - In a state in which the absence of the residual ink liquid is not detected by the
ink end sensor 13 when the ink cartridge 1 is to be once removed from the ink jet printer in the middle of the use, accordingly, the amount of the residual ink liquid in the ink cartridge 1 can be prevented from being completely nulled so that the initial filling can be executed safely, and at the same time, the generation of the idle ejecting can be prevented even if the initial filling is executed when the ink cartridge 1 is attached to thecartridge attachment portion 2 of the ink jet printer again. - When the absence of the residual ink liquid is detected by the
ink end sensor 13, moreover, the amount of the ink liquid remaining in thebuffer chamber 15 is clear. In the case in which the initial filling is not carried out, therefore, it is preferable that the ink cartridge 1 should be exchanged quickly after the residual ink liquid is alternatively consumed by the employment of a normal processing corresponding to the initial filling amount. Consequently, the subsequent printing processing can be prevented from being continuously carried out carelessly for a long period of time. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent a drawback from being caused by the idle ejecting on the ink jet printer side due to the continuous use in a state in which the amount of the residual ink liquid in the ink cartridge 1 is completely nulled. - Moreover, the amount of storage of the ink liquid in the
buffer chamber 15 can also be set corresponding to the amount of the residual ink liquid in the ink cartridge 1 (the amount of the residual liquid) to be a reference for prohibiting the maintenance processing such as the cleaning by the ink jet printer. - In the ink cartridge 1 in which the amount of storage of the ink liquid in the
buffer chamber 15 is thus set, when the absence of the residual ink liquid is detected by theink end sensor 13, the amount of the ink liquid remaining in thebuffer chamber 15 is clear. In the case in which the maintenance processing such as the cleaning is not executed, therefore, it is preferable that the ink cartridge 1 should be exchanged quickly after the residual ink liquid is alternatively consumed by the employment of the printing processing corresponding to the amount of the residual ink liquid. Consequently, the subsequent printing processing can be prevented from being continuously carried out carelessly for a long period of time. Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent a drawback from being caused by the idle ejecting on the ink jet printer side due to the continuous use in a state in which the amount of the residual ink liquid in the ink cartridge is completely nulled. - It is possible to properly set the amount of storage of the ink liquid in the
buffer chamber 15 including the capacity of theliquid passage 9 between theink end sensor 13 and the pressure regulating means 11 by varying the capacity of thebuffer chamber 15 or changing a position in theliquid passage 9 in which theink end sensor 13 is to be attached, for example. - Moreover, the ink low period determined by the amount of storage of the ink liquid in the
buffer chamber 15 is set to be the longest timing at a frequency at which the presence of the ink is detected in the ink liquid presence judgment processing. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the ink cartridge 1 from actually becoming an ink end when theink end sensor 13 detects the absence of the residual ink liquid. - The structures of the container body, the liquid chamber, the liquid receiving portion, the liquid supply port, the liquid passage, the liquid sensor and the buffer chamber in the liquid cartridge according to the invention are not restricted to the structures according to the embodiment but it is apparent that various configurations can be employed without departing from the scope of the invention.
- Moreover, the use of the liquid cartridge according to the invention is not restricted to the ink cartridge 1 to be attached to the ink jet printer which is the apparatus comprising the printing head to be the liquid ejection head as in the embodiment.
- For example, the invention can also be applied to a liquid cartridge which is to be attached to a liquid ejection apparatus using a liquid ejection head for discharging a liquid such as a coloring agent ejecting head to be used for manufacturing a color filter of a liquid crystal display, an electrode material ejecting head to be used for forming an electrode of an organic EL display or an FED (a surface emitting display), and furthermore, a bioorganism ejecting head to be used for manufacturing a biochip, and a sample ejecting apparatus to be a precision pipette.
Claims (21)
1. A liquid cartridge mountable to an apparatus, comprising:
a liquid chamber, having a first capacity to store a liquid therein;
a liquid supplying port, connectable to a liquid receiving portion of the apparatus;
a liquid passage, through which the liquid chamber and the liquid supplying port communicate with each other;
a liquid sensor, forming a part of the liquid passage and detecting a presence or absence of the liquid in the liquid chamber; and
a buffer chamber, having a second capacity to store the liquid therein and communicating with the liquid passage at a downstream of the liquid sensor, wherein
the second capacity is set to be smaller than the first capacity.
2. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the second capacity is set to be substantially 10% of an effective liquid amount of the liquid cartridge.
3. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the second capacity is set to be a standard use amount consumed when the apparatus ejects the liquid to one medium.
4. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the second capacity is set to be a maximum consumption amount consumed when the apparatus is subjected to a maintenance processing.
5. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the second capacity is set to be an initial filling amount for filling the liquid in a passage from the liquid cartridge to a liquid ejection head when the liquid cartridge is attached to the apparatus.
6. The liquid cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the second capacity is set to be a reference amount for prohibiting a maintenance processing.
7. A liquid ejection control method for an apparatus comprising a liquid receiving portion to which a liquid cartridge provided with a liquid chamber and a liquid sensor is detachably attached, and a liquid ejection head ejecting a liquid supplied from the liquid cartridge as liquid droplets to a medium, the method comprising:
a dot count processing of counting and calculating the number of the liquid droplets ejected from the liquid ejection head after attaching the liquid cartridge to the liquid receiving portion to obtain a count value;
a dot count judgment processing of judging whether the count value reaches a predetermined value;
a liquid presence judgment processing of judging a presence or absence of the liquid stored in the liquid chamber by the liquid sensor in a predetermined interval;
a dot count correction processing of modifying, when it is judged that the count value does not reach the predetermined value in the dot count judgment processing and the absence of the liquid is judged in the liquid presence judgment processing, the count value at a present time to a previous count value of when the presence of the liquid has judged immediately before judging the absence of the liquid and, of adding, to the previous count value, a additional count value obtained from when the presence of the liquid has judged to the present time to correct the previous count value; and
an ejection stop processing of stopping ejecting the liquid droplets when it is judged that the corrected count value reaches the predetermined value in the dot count judging processing.
8. A liquid ejection control method for an apparatus comprising a liquid receiving portion to which a liquid cartridge provided with a liquid chamber and a liquid sensor is detachably attached, and a liquid ejection head ejecting liquid droplets supplied from the liquid cartridge as liquid droplets to a medium, the method comprising;
a dot count processing of counting and calculating the number of the liquid droplets ejected from the liquid ejection head after attaching the liquid cartridge to the liquid receiving portion to obtain a count value;
a first dot count judgment processing of judging whether the count value reaches a first value;
a liquid presence judgment processing of judging a presence or absence of the liquid stored in the liquid chamber by the liquid sensor in a predetermined interval;
a second dot count judgment processing of judging, when it is judged that the count value does not reach the first value in the first dot count judgment processing and the absence of the liquid is judged in the liquid presence judgment processing, whether the count value reaches a second value; and
an ejection stop processing of stopping ejecting the liquid droplets when it is judged that the count value reaches the first value in the first dot count judgment processing or the second value in the second dot count judgment processing.
9. A liquid ejection apparatus to which a liquid cartridge comprising a liquid chamber and a liquid sensor is detachably attached, the apparatus comprising:
a liquid ejection head, ejecting a liquid supplied from the liquid chamber as liquid droplets to a medium;
a dot counter, counting the number of the liquid droplets ejected from the liquid ejection head to obtain a count value,
a detector, detecting a signal from the liquid sensor to judge a presence or absence of the liquid stored in the liquid chamber; and
a controller, controlling the liquid ejection head to stop ejecting the liquid droplets based on the count value obtained by the dot counter and the signal detected by the detector.
10. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein when the count value does not reach a first value and the detector detects the absence of the liquid,
the dot counter: modify the count value at a present time to a previous count value of when the detector has detected the presence of the liquid immediately before detecting the absence of the liquid; and add, to the previous count value, an additional count value obtained from when the detector has detected the presence of the liquid to the present time to correct the previous count value, and
the controller stops ejecting the liquid droplets when the corrected count value reaches the first value.
11. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein when the count value does not reach a first value and the detector detects the absence of the liquid,
the controller stops ejecting the liquid droplets when the count value reaches the first value or a second value after the detector has detected the absence of the liquid.
12. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 10 or 11 , wherein the first value is determined based on a capacity of the liquid cartridge.
13. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the liquid cartridge comprises: a liquid supply port connecting to the liquid ejection head; a liquid passage, through which the liquid chamber and the liquid supplying port communicate with each other, and a buffer chamber disposed at a downstream of the liquid sensor, and wherein
the second value is determined based on a capacity of the buffer chamber.
14. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the capacity of the buffer chamber is set to be substantially 10% of a capacity of the liquid cartridge.
15. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the capacity of the buffer chamber is set to be a standard use amount consumed when the apparatus ejects the liquid droplets to one medium.
16. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the capacity of the buffer chamber is set to be a maximum consumption amount consumed when the apparatus is subjected to a maintenance processing.
17. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the capacity of the buffer chamber is set to be an initial filling amount for filling the liquid in a passage from the liquid cartridge to a liquid ejection head when the liquid cartridge is attached to the apparatus.
18. The liquid ejection apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the capacity of the buffer chamber is set to be a reference amount for prohibiting a maintenance processing.
19. A liquid ejection control method for an apparatus which is provided with a liquid ejection head for ejecting liquid droplets to a medium, and to which a liquid cartridge is detachably attached, the liquid cartridge comprising:
a liquid chamber, storing a liquid therein;
a liquid supplying port, supplying the liquid to the liquid ejection head;
a liquid passage, through which the liquid chamber and the liquid supplying port communicate with each other;
a liquid sensor, forming a part of the liquid passage and detecting a presence or absence of the liquid in the liquid chamber; and
a buffer chamber, storing the liquid therein and communicating with the liquid passage at a downstream of the liquid sensor, the method comprising:
detecting a signal output from the liquid sensor;
judging the presence or absence of the liquid stored in the liquid chamber from the signal; and
counting and calculating the number of the liquid droplets ejected from the liquid ejection head at least after the absence of the liquid is judged.
20. The liquid ejection control method according to claim 19 , further comprising:
judging whether the number of the liquid droplets reaches a predetermined value;
stopping ejecting the liquid droplets from the liquid ejection head when the number of the liquid droplets reaches the predetermined value.
21. The liquid ejection control method according to claim 20 , wherein the predetermined value is determined based on a capacity of the buffer chamber
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US20060219726A1 (en) * | 2005-03-31 | 2006-10-05 | Minoru Yajima | Liquid detecting device, liquid container and method of manufacturing liquid detecting device |
WO2008131603A1 (en) * | 2007-04-26 | 2008-11-06 | Zhuhai Gree New Technology Research Co., Ltd. | An ink cartridge of an ink-jet printer |
KR101109314B1 (en) * | 2009-07-28 | 2012-01-31 | 삼성전기주식회사 | Portable electronic device having fuel cell power system |
CN103358706A (en) * | 2012-03-30 | 2013-10-23 | 兄弟工业株式会社 | Ink containing device and adaptor |
CN107139590A (en) * | 2017-05-05 | 2017-09-08 | 京东方科技集团股份有限公司 | A kind of ink jet printing device and inkjet printing methods |
US20190143706A1 (en) * | 2017-01-31 | 2019-05-16 | Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Image-recording apparatus including wall portion provided in storage chamber of tank connectable to liquid cartridge |
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JP4973293B2 (en) * | 2006-05-19 | 2012-07-11 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | Ink cartridge and printing apparatus |
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JP6770338B2 (en) | 2016-05-23 | 2020-10-14 | キヤノン株式会社 | Image forming device, control method of image forming device, and program |
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Also Published As
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US7625077B2 (en) | 2009-12-01 |
DE102006022353A1 (en) | 2006-11-23 |
TW200709948A (en) | 2007-03-16 |
KR20060117273A (en) | 2006-11-16 |
GB0609520D0 (en) | 2006-06-21 |
EP1721746A2 (en) | 2006-11-15 |
GB2425988A (en) | 2006-11-15 |
GB2425988B (en) | 2007-12-12 |
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